souder



(NO Moael.) 3 sheets-sheet 1'. J. J. SOUDBR.

DUMPING GAR-, x No. 464,639. Patented Dec. 8,1891.-

a fw Y l ,a 4 4 w -d .J7/f

. 1 -l w @0 /wla 690 M FIJI" a da www w im fidano@ I I M s. Milf 4. @www s, f I mi m %H/.% a ,/,a r.. P M

(No Model.) 's'sheets-she'et 2.' J. J. SOUDER. DUMBING GAR'.

No. 464,639. Patented Dec. 8, 1891.-

(Nn Model.) 3 sheets+-sheet 3.

J. J. SOUDER.

DUMPING GAR.

No. 464,639. Patented Dec. 8, 1891.

` UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICI-I.

lJACOB J. soUDER, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or coLUMBIA.

DUlVlPING-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,639, dated December 8, 1891.

Application filed March 30, 1891. Serial No. 387.068. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JACOB J. SOUDER, a citi- '.zen of the United States, residing in Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have in- 'cla-ss of vrailway-cars which are designed mainly for the transportation of granular material in bulk; and it relates particularly to a car of this character which is adapted for use upon what is known as narrow-gage railways, although in all the essential features thereof it is applicable to cars of any dimensions whatever.

The invention consists, in general, in a railway-car which has a bottom of hopper-like construction which extends from end to end of the car, and which is provided with dropdoors which extend lengthwise of the car and which are adapted in discharging the contents of the hopper to turn upon their hingerod from an inclined to a perpendicular position and to cause a directly-downward discharge of such contents.

The invention consists also in various other novel parts and novel combinations of parts in a dumping-car, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a top plan view of one-half the car, the body being removed, portions being broken out and the center of the car being indicated by the line v c. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line w w in Fig. l, portions being broken out the more fully to show the construction. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of means for equalizing the tension of the elevating-chains.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on the 'line a; in Fig. l, a portion of one of the longitudinal central sills being broken out. Fig. 4 is a partial bottom plan view showing portions of the mechanism by which the dropdoors are simultaneously elevated to their 'closed position, and showing also the continu- 'ous hinge-rod of such d ropdoors.

Fig. 5 isa detail of the covering-plate which secures the winding-shaft and its pawl in position. Fig. Fig. 7 is a detail 'plan view, looking down upon a section taken in the line y y of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detail top plan view at the ungeared -end of the chainshaft by which the drop-doors are elevated. Fig. 9 is a section on the line e .e of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrow seen in that figure.

In the provision of dumping-cars for the transportation of fine granular material upon railways of standard gage it is not difficult to so construct them that the material may be discharged by its own gravity Wholly outside the track-rails and upon either side of the car; but in'cars for narrow-gage roads it has been found that the elevation of the bed-frame above the trackway is too slight to permit a construction in which the inclination from the bottom of the hopper shall be suiiicient to insure the discharge of the material outwardly by its own gravity, and in my present construction I have accordingly provided for a directly-downward discharge of the entire contents of the car.

As will be seen in the drawings, the hopper a of the car A extends from end to end and from side to side of the bed-frame A; The

end sections a of the hopper may be pivotally end sections and from the -inner and upper extremities of the longitudinal sills of the bedframe. Central longitudinal sills ASAS, transverse half-sills A4 A4 A4, and longitudinal truss-rods A5 A5 and A6 A are provided, substantially as described in an application filed by me in the United States Patent Office simultaneously herewith and lettered l At the junction of the central section with the intermediate sections transverse supportingbars A7 A7, bent to conform to the configuration of the hopper, are secured to such hopper and to the exterior longitudinal sills. SillplatesASASASar-esecured tothebottomsurface of the longitudinal sills A2 and A3 and to the transverse half-sills A4, and each of these sillplates is provided with a central loop or bearing as and a bottom notch n for achain-shaft IOO and for a meeting bar, respectively, with side loops or bearings a a for the inner longitudinal truss-rods, and with studs or braces d10 du for the exterior longitudinal truss-rods. A hinge-rod au, secured by its ends in bearings 0,12 upon the bottom of the transverse supporting-bars A7, extends through hinge-bear ings a in hinge-straps (Z13 upon the bottom of the fixed central sections d5 of the hopper, and through corresponding bearings CZ in the upper extremity of the hinge-straps CZ of the drop-doors D. Longitudinally along the lowest portion of the hopper-opening extends a meeting bar @15, which in this instance is composed of two acutely-bent angle-plates am a, nested one within the other in such mannelas to form between them grooves als als, as shown. Preferably a bar al will extend along the recess in the lower an glo-plate, being secured in bearings a2 d20 upon the supporting-bars A7 A7, to impart tirmness to the meeting bar. A chain-shaft O, journaled at its ends in fixed bearings ZJ, secured upon the bottom of the central longitudinal sills, has bearings also in the loops as of the transverse sill-plates Ag, and at one end it is provided with a gear-Wheel g4, which is engaged by a corresponding pinion or wheel g3 upon the inner extremity of a transversely-placed wi nding-shaft g, which is supported in a bearing g' upon an interior longitudinal sill and in a bearing g2 upon an exterior longitudinal sill. Chains c, of uniform length and in any desired number, are secured by one end to the chain-shaft C, while the opposite end is connected to a short bolt Z2 in a perforation Z3 of the drop-door, the exterior' and threaded end of each of such bolts being provided with a nut (Z4, by which the tension of the several chains c may be made uniform.

Each of the dropdoorsD is provided upon its' upper face with a longitudinal ange (Z5 and with transverse flanges CZ d, which, when the doors are closed, enter, respectively, the groove als in the meeting bar and the grooves a21 C121, which are formed in the intermediate hopper-sections a6.

The winding-shaft g receives upon its outer end a locking-plate L and a ratchet wheel or pinion g5. The locking-plate, which is suitably secured in a recessed portion ofthe body or of the bed-frame of the car, is provided with a locking-lug Z, which has a perforation Z', with a pawl Z2, and with a pivoted covering and securing bar or plate Z3, which has a downturned flange orholding-lug Z4 for engagement behind the pawl, a perforation Z to engage the squared Winding end or arbor g'of the winding-shaft, and an end fiange or lug 07, having a perforation gS corresponding to the perforation Z in the lugZ oi' the locking-plate and adapted to receive, in connection with such lug, the holding-arm of any ordinary or suitable padlock.

It will be apparent that a winding-shaft may be applied,in connection with the chainshaft, at cach extremity of the hopper or at any intermediate point, and it will also be apparent that, if desired, the car and its hopper and the drop-doors of such hopper may be divided transversely, and a separate chainshaft and Winding mechanism may-be pro vided for each receptacle.

It will be seen that the provision of a hopper which extends from end to end of the car, and which has oppositely-placed drop-doors which extend lengthwise of the car and are hinged at their outeredges so as to fall apart or away from each other when opened, 1n-

sures complete and instantaneous clearance of the car, while by reason of the co-operati've relation of the open doors and the track-rails, as seen in Fig. 2, no portion of the contents of the carcan falloutside of or upon the rails.

As will be seen in the drawings, the hopper of the car is composed of metal, the better to resist abrasion in receiving, conveying, and discharging hard and rough substances, Such as mineral coals, limestone, and ores; but the caris none the less adapted to use as a graincar, the provision of the flanges upon the face of the doors, each projecting preferably an inch or more, in connection with the corre spending grooves in the meeting bar and 1n the body of the hopper, insuring entire security against the escape of any portion of even the most diminutive cereals.

It will be apparent that the chain-shaft might extend to or nearly to the end of the bed-frame, and that the crank or winch might be applied directly to such shaft instead of employing the transverse shaft and intermediate gearing, as shown; but in most cases the construction already described will be found preferable.

The provision of the slidable extension a" upon the pivoted end sections a of the hopper adapts such sections for close adj ustlnent with the end wall 4w of the car either in an inclined or in a horizontal position, as may be desired, the beveled edge c of the extension fitting continuously against such wall when the section is elevated to its inclined position, and the upper extremity only of such edge resting in contact with such wall when the section is in its horizontal position. This vertically-adjustable end section is thus adapted either to form an inclined continuation of the'hopper to the extreme end of the car or to constitute a horizontal continuation of a horizontal floor, whether formed in adjustable intermediate sections, as in United States Patent No. 371,224, issued to me October ll, 1887, or otherwise.

It will be apparent that in constructing cars of the character herein 'described it is essential to convenient and advantageous use that the space within the upper or merchandise section thereof shall be wholly unobstructed, and it will be seen that this end is secured by the above-described construction, in which the longitudinal shaft which operates to close the drop-doors or dumping-sections is placed wholly below the plane of the IOO upper surface of the bed-frame. As a result of this location of the shaft or drum, it is practicable to readily, conveniently, and securely support the same in numerous bearings secured to the bed-frame, thus equalizing the strain of the burden upon thev same, and to attach numerous winding-chains, thus equalizing the strain upon the various parts of the hinged sections. As a further result, the shaft being placed in coincidence with the bedframe, itI is protected thereby against possible injury through accident or otherwise, and is practically screened against contact with the contents of either of the two sections of the car. Also, under this construction it is practicable to readilyV apply this portion of my improvement to cars of ordinary construction without modification of the body of the same.

Having described my invention, I claim" l. A dumping-car which is provided with a hopper-like bottom which extends from end.

to end of the bed-frame, and with coincident exteriorlyhinged drop-doors which extend lengthwise of the car and from the top to the bottom of the hopper, and whicl1,when unfastened, swing away from each other and from the longitudinal center of the car toward the outside thereof into line with the car-wheels and into contact with the trackrails, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a` dumping-car, the hopper having grooves along the margin of its discharging-opening, the outwardly-hinged centrallymeeting doors, each having longitudinal and transverse ianges, the meeting bar having grooves, and a revoluble chain-shaft by which the doors are closed and by which the flanges upon the doors are brought into engagement with' the grooves in the body of the hopper and in the meeting bar, in combination, substantially as specified.

3. In a dumping-car, the combination, with the bed-frame, of the transverse sill-plates AS,

provided with central bearing, end braces, and intermediate bearings, as described, the

central bearing receiving the chain-shaft and 5. The combination, with the Winding-shaft g, having ratchet-wheel and pawl, as described of the covering and securing bar or plate Z3, having holding-lug Z4 for engagement behind the pawl when the securing-plate is in its locked position.

6. The combination, with the locking-plate L, secured to the body of the car, as shown, and having the locking-lug Z, of the Windingshaft g, having ratchet-wheel and pawl, and the securing bar or plate Z3, pivoted upon the locking-plate and engaging with the pawl and -with the arbor of the winding-shaft and provided With 'perforated end lug g7, coincident with the lug Z upon the locking-plate.

7. The combination, with the transverse supporting-bars A7 A7, each provided with a bearing d20, of the bearing-bar am and the superposed angle-plates al a, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

S. The combination, with the end wall of the car and with the pivoted end section CZ of the hopper, of the adjustable 'extension do, whereby the pivoted extension, Whether in its inclined or in its horizontal position, is 1n close vcontact 'with the Wall of the car, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a railway-car, the combination of `hinged drop-doors or dumping-sections and means for closing such doors 0r sections, such means embracing a winding-shaft centrally arranged longitudinally of and below the plane of the upper surface of the bed-frame of the car, substantially as described.

10. A railway-car which is provided with hinged or swinging dumping-sections and with a winding-shaft for operating such sections7 arranged centrally lengthwise of the car and below the plane ot' the upper surface of .the bed-frame thereof.

1l. In a convertible dumping and merchandise car, the combination of a movable or changeable main I'loor, exteriorly hinged drop-doors extending lengthwise of the car, and a cent1-al longitudinal winding-shaft below the top of the bed-frame of the car for closing such doors, substantially as set, forth.

12. In a railway-car, coincident oppositelyinclined outwardlyhinged dropdoors or dumping-sections, and a central longitudinal Winding-shaft below the plane of the upper surface of the bed-frame of the car, in combination.

JACOB J. SOUDER.

IOO

IIC 

